Update

I get discouraged when I want to blog but don't have many photos to post. Our batteries are constantly dying in our camera, and I just can't keep enough batteries on hand to keep replacing them. But, there I things I really want to write about, so here are some highlights, with or without photos, from the last two months (gasp!).

The first day back to school in January, Eric took all three kids out for donuts first thing in the morning. They had a blast, and they brought me home two of my favorite kind (did you guess chocolate frosted chocolate cake donut?).

Mierae had been reading Patricia Polacco books in school and one day brought home a recipe for "Thunder Cake" that the author shares in one of her books. Mierae was excited to try it, and we have since made it at least three times. Henrik helped Eric and me make it one night when he was being a stinker and wouldn't stay asleep in bed.

He is a hoot and just such a happy boy. I love his cuddles, his smiles, and his enthusiasm for life.

His new thing is standing on a stool and looking out the window. It's fun when he does it when Eric or I get home from work.

For Valentine's Day, we took the kids to a sock hop at the library. They had fun dancing, eating, and being together as we did the YMCA, the Hokey Pokey and rocked out to Disney favorites. I made chocolate-covered strawberries for a special holiday treat, and they were a big hit.

I went to Mierae's parent-teacher conference and was happy to see how well Mierae is doing in school and how much she is learning.

We had our third annual Russian Night with some good friends, and it was so great to finally get together with some families again. Life gets so busy, and I get really stressed out when preparing meals for guests, but this was really fun, and Eric did most of the prep and cooking!

With Eric finishing up his PhD work in December, we didn't know what we were going to do starting in January, and of course thereafter. But our prayers were answered when he got a teaching position at a small university for spring semester. He teaches two classes, twice a week, and things have been going so well. He was also offered a class to teach at an OSU satellite campus spring quarter, and we are counting our blessings! Still no word on what the fall will bring, but we're trying to be optimistic. I'm just so proud of Eric and feel so blessed with everything we have right now.